WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Global CEO Initiative (CEOi) on Alzheimer's Disease today announced that Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda") will join the CEOi as part of its effort to spur innovations in research and accelerate a means of prevention for Alzheimer's and Dementia, building momentum behind the G8's commitment to stop the disease by 2025.

"The CEOi has a unique role in unifying the Alzheimer's movement," said Dr. Tetsuyuki Maruyama, Corporate Officer, General Manager of Pharmaceutical Research Division at Takeda. "We are excited to join the CEOi and believe that, through the its powerful collaborative model, we can play an important role in developing the new innovations in Alzheimer's drug development that are necessary to meet the goal of stopping the disease by 2025."

Every 4 seconds, another person somewhere in the world develops Alzheimer's or Dementia. Without a drug to slow the progression of the disease, the prevalence of Alzheimer's and Dementia, which currently costs the world $605 billion annually, is projected to triple from 44 million to 135 million by 2050.

Through its diverse group of partner corporations, including Takeda, the CEOi is seeking to work closely with governments and global institutions to advance meaningful reforms to the Alzheimer's drug marketplace.

"We are thrilled that Takeda is joining us and our partners," said George Vradenburg, Convener of the CEOi. "Takeda will play a key role in helping the CEOi reshape the Alzheimer's discovery and drug development marketplace in order to speed the development of a disease-modifying treatment or cure for Alzheimer's."

Takeda, located in Osaka, Japan, is a global leader in developing innovations in medicine. It will join AC Immune, Bank of America, Banner Health, GE, Home Instead Senior Care, Janssen, Eli Lilly and Co., Merck, Nestle Health Science, Pfizer and Sanofi in the CEOi.

The Global CEO Initiative (CEOi) on Alzheimer's Diseaseis an organization of private-sector leaders who have joined together with government to provide business leadership in the fight against Alzheimer's. The CEO Initiative seeks to partner with public leaders to transform the disease from a social, health, and economic crisis into an opportunity for healthy aging and innovation in research and care. Its members include: AC Immune, Bank of America, Banner Health, GE, Home Instead Senior Care, Janssen, Eli Lilly and Co., Merck, Nestle Health Science, Pfizer, Takeda and Sanofi. The CEO Initiative believes that, during this era of aging populations, it will take visionary, coordinated, goal oriented leadership of public and private leaders working together to solve our greatest challenges. For more information, visit http://www.ceoalzheimersinitiative.org/